Page 52 of Keeping Our Secrets

“What about here?”

“I love my dad and Camille has been really great, but this isn’t my home. On top of that, they’ve only been married for a year, I don’t think they want two babies in the house.”

“I’m sure they would let you stay here if you asked, but that’s not what I want.”

“Are you sure you can handle us being there with you while you’re trying to study?”

“I honestly don’t think I’ll be able to concentrate without you guys there with me.”

“Okay, I’ll go home with you.”

“Great.”

We packed my bag and went back down. Dad and Camille were at the kitchen table when he got to the bottom of the steps.

“He’s convinced you to go with him?” Dad asked.

I nodded.

“And this is what you want?” Camille added.

“Yes, this is what we both want,” I responded. “Thanks for everything.”

“Don’t be a stranger,” Dad replied. “That includes you, Liam.”

“We won’t, sir,” Liam agreed.

When we arrived back home, I didn’t have any idea what we were walking into. If Liam and I were going to do this together, then we needed to tell our parents that we were going to be parents ourselves.

He seemed so confident with the choice we were about to make, and I just didn’t understand how he wasn’t worried.

Or maybe he was just that good, and he didn’t want me to stress out any more than I already was. We discussed at length just how we were going to broach the subject.

He had called ahead and talked to his dad and without divulging the reason, to see if they were both going to be home this afternoon. We had a lot to talk to them about.

Liam set my bags on the floor in the entryway.

“You’re back,” Mom greeted us, looking surprised, albeit a little confused.

“Yeah,” I replied.

“You called Liam to come pick you up. I didn’t know the two of you were that close. Why didn’t you call me?” she asked. “I would have dropped everything to come and get you.”

“I was in the area,” Liam cut in.

“Is this about the baby?” she asked.

I shook my head.

“Honey, you’re so young. Are you sure you won’t consider giving your baby up for adoption?”

“Not going to happen.”

“Just think about it. You're so young. You've got your whole life ahead of you, years to have other children when you are ready for them.”

“You’re never going to change my mind,” I responded, crossing my arms over my chest. “These twins are the best thing to happen to me in a long time.”

“You cannot be serious!” she gasped. “Twins?” Mom glanced over at James. “One baby is enough, but two is going to be too difficult for you to handle. You can't possibly do this alone.”

---